January 2008
With the holiday season behind us, we are off and running in 2008. As you know, we have a number of new board members this year. In any organization, there is always some concern about losing momentum when there is a significant change in leadership. I am pleased to report to you that your new board members have bolted out of the gate with energy, enthusiasm, new ideas and with their sleeves rolled up to work. We can look forward to great success in 2008 and beyond. I have great confidence in all of our board members and Ambassadors for this year. I know they will appreciate your cooperation and encouragement.
The Board of Directors is already at work reviewing lessons learned from 2007 and preparing to move forward. Suggestions and recommendations from Chamber members are both welcome and essential during this critical time. Many of the Chamber events and functions require preparation months in advance, and it is especially important that we develop strategic plans that will facilitate growth and improve member services.
The next step in our agenda is a Board of Directors strategic planning session, scheduled for February 2nd. Board members are sacrificing a Saturday, giving up time from family and business to not only develop strategic and tactical plans for the year; but more importantly, to come to a consensus so that we can move forward as a stronger team. As I outlined at the annual meeting, some of our major goals and initiatives for this year include, but are not limited to:
- Maintaining a full and diverse Board of Directors – There are positions to be filled, and it is equally important to be prepared for unexpected vacancies. With a full agenda for 2008 and goals that will stretch us beyond our comfort zones, it is essential to have the right people in place with a good balance of skills, experience and perspectives.
- Succession planning and development plans for Board officers – These initiatives are essential to ensure that future Boards will be equipped and prepared to lead.
- Develop and maintain a full Ambassador team. – Our Ambassadors are critical to our success, both near-term and long-term. In addition to have a maximum complement of Ambassadors, we would like to consider an orientation or training program to make the Ambassador experience more rewarding, efficient and effective.
- Identify & address personnel needs to facilitate and manage growth – Improving member services and managing growth will likely require additional staffing. Prior planning to identify personnel requirements, costs and return on investment must be a part of the master plan.
- Process improvement initiatives – Any organization can benefit from creating a culture of continuous improvement. Well proven practices from commercial business to improve quality and increase efficiency will also benefit the Chamber. Our primary focus will be on both member services and internal operating processes.
I have had opportunity to meet with our new Mayor and Town Manager to discuss the partnership between the Chamber and the Town of Wendell regarding economic development. I am impressed with their interest, their energy, their knowledge and their vision regarding this extremely important subject. We are in complete agreement on opening a new dialog between the Chamber and the Town Board to reexamine the charter of the Economic Development Committee and to redefine the strategic vision as required; avoiding the risk of just making superficial changes. You will hear more about this very soon.
Those who came before us provided well-laid and solid foundation to build on. Presently, we have a high-quality leadership team in place and a growing, dedicated membership. With a common sense approach to managing growth and creating a culture of continuous improvement, we can expect great success in 2008 and beyond.